Appropriate Historical Temperaments

[Sambell, Ted]

I really enjoy 1/4 comma meantone though it has to be used appropiately, as
should all historical tunings, but here's a thought. Has it occured to many
people that its underlying philosophy has much in common with equal
temperament, as the 'usable' keys are all alike, so key color is not really
an issue, compared to the just major thirds and slow beating major sixths. I
must confess to some mystification also to the idea of 1/7th. comma
meantone. Surely there can be no such thing, as meantone has always meant
the division of the just major third into two (mean)tones rather than the
major tone with a ratio of 8:9 and the minor tone ratio of 9:10 which added
together comprise the just major third. Perhaps someone can be kind enough
to enlighten me.

Ted Sambell 

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Moody [mailto:remoody@midstatesd.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 12:33 AM
To: caut@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Appropriate Historical Temperaments




----- Original Message -----
From: <A440A@aol.com>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 7:34 AM
Subject: Re: Appropriate Historical Temperaments


|       I have found it interesting that several listeners to the
Mozart
| comparisons on our Six Degrees CD have decided that they like the
1/4 comma
| meantone version!!  I am astounded, since everytime I hear that wolf
| clang,(it is 41 cents wide), the hair on the back of my neck stands
up.  Just
| goes to show that there is a WIDE variety of tastes out there.


Ed
    You are not supposed to listen to the G#--Eb "wolf fifth" or these
"wolf thirds" G#--C, F#--Bb, the C#--F, or the B--Eb.   When you
encounter them in music you arpegiate them (stacato) and DON'T use the
sustain pedal.  In Meantone you are supposed to listen to the C-E-G
and delight in the pure sounding triad impossible (so they say) on
keyboard instruments.  If you think that is heavenly, there are minors
that are absolutly ethereal.  "Amazing Grace" and Greensleaves" will
prove it.  I would love to hear it accompany singers.
    Leave a few 1/4 comma Meantones  around and you might just start a
new folk song era.
---ric